Ministry officials complain army harassment at Muhamalai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 June 2002, 17:57 GMT]
A team of officials from the Ministry of Social Services said Sunday that they were subjected to undue search by Sri Lanka Army personnel at the Muhamalai entry point in when they were on their way to Jaffna yesterday. The officials came to Jaffna Saturday with a consignment of tricycles, spectacles and sewing machines for war affected persons in the peninsula. They were on a two-day tour in Jaffna with Sri Lanka's Minister for Social Services Mr. Ravindra Samaraweera who arrived Saturday by air.

"We were subjected to severe body search when we arrived at Muhamalai SLA checkpoint yesterday. Our national identity cards were closely examined. The consignment taken by us was thoroughly checked. We were delayed for more than two hours at the army checkpoint," said an official of the Ministry of Social Ministry at a press briefing at the Jaffna Central College Sunday.

Two thousand spectacles were donated to needy persons during the Minister's visit. Several women widowed by the war were given sewing machines. Persons who lost their limbs in the conflict were presented tricycles. White canes were donated to those who lost their eyesight, a social services ministry official said.